Grading machine



w. T. ROBERTS GRADING MACHINE Mar. 5, 1929.

Filed Aug. 26, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet Mal. 5, `l929 w. T. B. ROBERTS 1,703,955

GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 192s 4 sheets-sheet 3 f A r k k a f/ ,'447 4.

7 f?? f L f4@ /35/ o I. 2522 ,46 /49 /fs 7 s J /fa INVENTUR.

j w. T. B. ROBERTS Mar. 5, 1929.

A GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NvE/vmR- m @M AZW I Patentes WiLLimk fr foivias B'Ucnineiiain ROBERTS; on Liiicnsrrnii, ENGLAND, Assieiioaa To UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COEPQRATO, -OF"PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, `A COR* ronefrioiv or' NEW GRADING MACHINE.

application aies august i925, sei-iai No". 52,551, and inY Gremial/tain september i9, 192i.

rlhis invention relates to grading machines and is herein illustrated as embodied iii a machine for stamping and evening shoe soles in accordance With the thickness oi the thinnest spot iii a selected locality in each` sole. y

Machines for grading` soles` and similar blanks .commonly comprise measuring mech,- anism, Trading mechanism and mechanism for adjustingthe gradingmechanism in accordance with the deteriiiin ations the meas uringy mechanism.- ln the operation of such a machine a blank is presented to the measuring mechanism which is responsive to variations in the thickness ot the blank, said measuring mechanism commonly comprising a `pair of rolls which advance the blank and one of Which rises and falls as thicker or thinner localities in the blank are encountered; and a ieed. mechanism, commonly an endless chain,

in ',chanism. For many years machines of this type Were so constructed. that a succesl blank could not be presented tothe inea ing` mechanism until the preceding' blank had n been coiniileti-xlygizi.tled-t r example, splitor evene-d; but recently machin s have been cesigined in which a succeedingblank may presented to thev iiiea'suring mechanism While the iiecedin blank is being` graded, with the result that the output ot the machine is considerably increased. Such a machine is disn clos-ed in Letters Patent No; 1,640,3TQ, granted Aug. 30, 1927, upon an application filed in my naine.

llie general object o'i'f the present invention is to improve machines ol i general type and more particularly to taci italie the operation ol machines in which tufo blanks may be going' throiigih the. machine'at the same time;

Grading machines, Whether acapted to nerinit the passage through them of one blanket a time or oit tivo, have commonly been provided with a member located in the path of travelot the blank and adapted to be displaced by the blank to effect a locking` of part ot the adjusting; mechanl ,in againstmovey nient in response' to thicker spots'. in the blank encountered by the measuring mechanism, this member being held displaced by the blank during the eilective measuring operation and returning t0 its normal position-and thereby releasing the lockiiigmeansonly after the trailingend of the blank has moved past it. In machines in Which tivoblanks .at a time are passing through the machine, a difficulty sometimes arises, when the blanks are 'et oonsiderable length, by reason of thel fact that the actthat part of the adjusting mechanism isy still locked, the measuring mechanism is not' etlective to ust the gradingliiiechaiiisin.

According,` to one feature ofthe present iii vention there is'provided, connection with locking' means for blank treading` mechanism and a locking member adapted When displacedlby a blank to yren-der the locking inwproved means eliective, meansfor releasingr the locking` means 'irrespective of `Whether they blank is still holding the locking member displaced.r v,ln the illustrative machine, vthis y means takes the vform oi" a tripv adapted 'to be engaged bythe leading end of a blank` said trip, when 1iioved,actiiig to thi-civ into ope 'atioii poWer-operated means for releasing ther lookin ine-an s. i

In evening- 'in achines iiivvhich ktwo blanks at Aa time may be passing* through the machine, it I is desirable that the trailing end of the preceding blank be released lby the rolls of the eveningv mechanism at the end or the evening4 operation so that, should the trailing endl of the blank have become stuck between these rolls, it is released then and an opportunity given ioi it to tall away i-roin the rolls before the leadingeiid of the succeedin 5;- bl: l enters between the rolls @tl-ierwie@` the sncyceediiigblank is liable to be eveiicd, not to its thickness determined by the measuring,

mechanism, but to' the determined thickness of the precedingl blank provided the precedf trailing end of each blank after it has been evened. ln the illustrative machine, the upper roll of the evening mechanism is urged at all times by resilient means to move away from the lower roll, and is moved down to the proper position for each blank by rotary spiral-faced inclines. Just at the end of the evening operation, these inclines are raised to permit the resilient means to open the gap between the rolls so that the evened blank may tall away. Downward movement of the spiral-'faced inclines, which immediately follows them, adjusts the gap suitably ior the succeeding blank.

ln grading machines having` evening mechanism. it has been customary to provide two inclined stops upon the bearings of the pper roll of the evening mechanism and, located above them, an adjustable bar carrying two complementary inclined stops, the construction being such that the roll is normally in its lowcrmost position wherein the two sets ot stops are out oi contact ln the operation of the machine the bar is adjusted by the measuring mechanism to cause 'the desired space between the two sets ot stops; and then the blank, as it enters between the rolls, raises the upper roll until said stopsrare in contact, the extent to which the vupper roll may be so raised by the blank depending` upon the position into which the bar has been adjusted and consequently upon the thickness of the thinnest spot in the blank encountered by the n'ieasuring mechanism According to another feature ot the inrention, the rolls of the evening mechanism are normally held apart by resilient means, and rotaryv members are provided for producing relative movement o'l" approach between the rolls to the desired extent in accordance with the determinations of the measuring mechanism. ln the illustrative machine, the ad- ;instahle bar is adjusted as usual into a position corresponding to the thickness oi the thin est spot in a. blank: but does not carri7 thev usual inclined stops. instead, its end serves as a gage to limit the movement eta 1ioucr-actuated member movement of which rotates the rotary men'ihersq which have been referred to above, to deiliress the upper roll. nii the evening mechanism. lViti this cons ruction the blank does not have lo spread. ie rolls of the evening mechanism apart.. the

ills being udiusteiil into citar-lijf the desired spaced relaticm before the blank enters between, them.

rllhcse and other `features ot the invention. including certain details ot construction and combinations of parts, will be described as embodied in an illustrative machine andv pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accon' panying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevatio.' ot the machine partly in section;

3, 4t and the convey/ring chain t3.

Figure 2 is a plan, partly in section, of some of the parts 01"' the machine;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation to a reduced scale, showing workfeeding and splitting roll separating mechanism of the machine;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing splitting roll setting mechanism et' the machine;

Figure 5 is an end elevation, partly in scction, showing splitting roll setting mechanism of the machine;

Figure 6 is asection on the line t-t ot Figure il;

vFigure is a detail view showing 'leed chains, presser devices and a clutch tripping member of the machine; and Y Figure 8 is apart sectional elevation showing work guiding mechanism ot the machine.

ln this construction the machine is of the same general nature as that described in British Patent No. 17,808 of i909 in that it includes a pair ci measuring rolls l and 2 and a pair ot 'feeding rolls 3 and e. (hereinz'iitcr referred to as splitting rolls) which latter teed the work piece against a splitting knit'c 5 (Fig. 4), the work pieces being ted under a gate (i l) to the measuring rolls from a table 7 at the 'front ot the machine by the operator and being conveyed on leaving the measuring rolls by a chain conveyor 8 (Fig.

to the splitting` rolls. Stamping' mechanism is provided at a location slightly in advance ot the splitting rolls in order to mark the work, this stampingv mechanism (not shown) being like that of the machine of Jthe patent. rihev means tor energizing the stamping mechanism includes, as in the patented machine, a rotary `stamp shattclutched intermittently to the main driving` shaft l() ot the machine which rotates continuously and arises continuous rotation through gearing ci both pairs oit rolls i. and

W The tripping into action of thc clutch, which connects the rotary stamp sha't't 5l to the constantly driven parts, has in constructions heretofore used 'generally been donc by the liiting ol'V the upper splitting roll caused by engagement ot the leading enel. ot the work piece tln-irewith. in the `illustrative construction. a clutch tripikiiug member il is pro-A vided which the work ,i'v betere entering the bite of the splitting` r is. 'i ie clutch tripping member ll (liigs, l?)

and i) has projecting downwai-dl)Y trom it into the path oit the work piece three i gers l2, 13 and one at each side oi and one. between the conveyor chains 8, two chai il being provided in the present machine, that it the leading point. oic the work piece is oitset from a medial line extending between the conveyor chains one or the other et the side hngers l2 or la will be engaged, by the,

fsei'ev-r :md Sie? e .nnectien Se ie i eaiy iffjusltebie iie1een,'zuid 1 b hee extending; fiein it e siem 1G e 'moung the end eff en erm i? n there: .i'en' if. Thi :mf 4 ed en i'ee'eigiiy in "d iframe ineebiiie nl is; rige; "a

iesidin-g peint ef inbe )fak peee, und ibs inenibei' il wii be'eiw be mieed.

w Y f ,i '1T ed to an umn 2 Fig. l) wie mem n e. ebuild', 19. The Wm 2O bes pivefal, ed 'e ,it e 'ewer end eff red 22 'i 'from tbe `doei: E23g y i0 the lever 24 to Swing )eek to be 1 ebnen so te apen the clutch aguil. ing' between the driving sb? e'zin'ip Sbei; 9 is snub het Jie f makes 'bee ieifolutiens e ene of the amp sb-ait Q; and, to prevent tbe clutch iever 'onl swinging in a efeeifzefise dileetien and @E eninp; tbe 4Clutch beifeie the ehe,

a pin Q8 en tbe leve turen; ebgiebepeni in; peeiien u e i'evobi'ie. .10 e in :i eieeiiv cb i' The yell zin mijn, 29 of e (fein level' meebenein is noiA lifted by the pieeee )L ee :k

ze Vthey pese benezgb ii'. ie paened ineebinee` :les baie been. niei this bim e' mechanism.

scribe-d,

tripped by Ure pzieeage of the leading end the pieeee of @web seleatb tbe fingers 33,13,

le :it `ibe end of the wip ineinbei' i A l?. i The wie 6 in` front of the mez; effing mile J f. l andQ f eine' lifted `is Wah be bereineljei de- Lik werk pieve is fed in by the operator, dine d g *die lewei. measuring H2 ma is usual in nmebinee Off this che. Tbe up e; d down movements of the Yell 2, due te Variatienei die thickness; of the pieces eti? steek,

Causes movement of e Slide bei' 37er eenreei (Fig. 2) and fro above the musei the Spizjgke," 1i'1eebanisi'11,eiieb ineveiienb being Caused, e #be n'mehine of tbe paient, by a, eegmen Y `ei l), segent-f; 33, 24, rackba 05 and yVeieczd shaft baving it ie iower end a ninien mebing with eeb formed on the Side' ef die 35 and et. ie uppe end u pin'ien meshing' With teeth e'inedon the side er edge @if the bei 37. Thie Slide bar inus; ,muy be eet? in position te correspond to j 'tbiekneesoif the thinnest Spot in the, piece ie .engegehee Sets .0f teeth are two pivoted psiwls 42, 43 pivoted in a forkedmelnber 44 rzune of the ingi- "f @bine and adjuszible by means of a, Sele-W 4f.

4The meinbe may be locked Vin adjusted pfslidngly meiinted in the eition by a Screw (not shown). The pmvie are providedr with spring pressed pilingers on che ifaebet blocks 38, 39. AS Wiipyeseeiy appeal', ythe psv-.v1 3 `engages the e'eth. il se as e0 perinif; movement of die eide ber 3'? foi eil e eniy in adireeien eex'iieepending ee thinner Spots encountered .in the piece ei eme-k which is passing between the measuring yells 2; and then tbe )and 4t2 engages die iee'l'l 4() se that the eiifee bei' 37 een no longer move in either direefen. The pzymls me nei'- inzdy held eut ef Contest Wib the teleth, as Shown by reds 4f?, e9, which Aare ed et rtbe p'eper times to reiease be pende. The :we continued by be e. ebee (Fig. l) which izlised wben he leading' end eff :i piece eli be crei-v end pziessesfiezn benezl'b if. The sbee 50 ie edjusably mounted on i md 51 W and eel-ries z Serine" nlung'e 52 zu" 'zuwed ite D i V N eniiei :my one e yew, (ne, heles in the red 5l. The rod 5l is fixed in `die hub of en erin 5,4-, piveed to tbe freine e1 the machine, 'which has formed en iii face 55 against which he end e e bare@ bears. Therbar 5S is :slidingy ineunted in the freine of the ma,- Chine and has fixed in vit the end Aof the red *Ll-9, se tbatwhen tbeleading end of theWork Werk pee-,eee beneath it und falle whenl o ol Cil

piece enters beneath the shoe and lifts it about the pivot 203, the slide 37 is locled in one direction by pnwl 48; and, when the shoe 50 drops oli1 the trailing end oi the work piece, the pewl lf3 is withdrawn from the 'teeth ll. rlhe other pzrwl is tripped to lockV the slide 37 in the other direction by e connection between its rod 48 and the este (3 which rete drops when the trailing end of the work piece has passed from under it. This connection comprises en erin 57 lined to the shelt lt) and having et its upper end :t pin 58 through which the rod 4S threaded. rlie este t3 is slidingly mounted on rods 59, 59 one of which is fixed in the luib of the arm 57 one the other in e block GO lined on. the seme shaft 19 to which the erin 57 is fixed. By adjusting the geste G along the rods 59, the length of that portion ot the work piece which is between the gate und the bite ol? the ifeed rolls when the gate drops off the work piece and which is not measured may be reried.

The machine designed to come to rest with the rete 6 raised end the shoe 50 lowered es shown in the figures, both locliii'ig pewls 43. being, held in inoperetiye position (Fig. 2). As soon es e piece of stock is pushed beneath the gate and engaged by the measuring rolls l end 2, the gate falls upon the piece of stock. The gate does not et this time i'nll ifa-r enough to allow the pewl 4i2-to become operative. As soon as the piece oit stoellifts the shoe 50., the pziwl d3 becomes opere.- tive to prevent the slide 37 from moving; to the right (Fig. 2) in response to thicker spots in the stock which is passing between the `reeling rolls l, 2. The slide 87 is, however, to move tothe lelit in response to thinner spots encountered in the stock by the meesurii'ig rolls. The slide 37 thus continues to be inored to the le't't. es thinner spots are encountered in the stock, until the 2ente G rides off trein the trailing end of the stock, whereupon the pewl Ai2 becomes operative, sind the slide 57 is locked from movement in eitner direction, seid slide ut thnttime occupying;v e position dependent upon the thickness oi the thinnest spot in the piece o't stoel; to which the messering' mechanism wes responsive.

lu the nuichine olf the petont referred Yo ubove. the member corresponding to the slide bei' 37 carries two wedne-sheped stops which cooperate with two complementary wedgeslm pcd stops ou the bearings oi the upper roll 3 ol the splitting lnechnnisni so tlmt. when. the slide bei' hos been sei in ziccordznice with the thinnest spot in the stock and locked ironi niovcnient, it is so held whi e the stock is passing through the splitting mechanism and is not released until. the stock laisses from between the rolls 3 :ind l zitter having been conipletely split. ln the present machine the slide bar 37 carries no such stops and is released while one piece ci stock is being` split so that it may be responsive to the measurevtion oic the upper roll 3 hence the thickness to which the stock is split. To this end, the setting slide 37 hes e beveled surface 6l (Fig. 2) et its right-hand end into contact with which a complementary beveled sur- 'lzice on zi slide ineinber 62 adopted to be brought to set the stops referred to above in e manner which will be described below. The mechanism for causing this contact takes the forni oi' i closed cznn track 63 (Figure l) in a geni' wheel (Se. niountedon the stamp shaft 9 es will be hereinafter described. 'lhe coin (i4 hes in ite second cern truck which operates the lever 30 to n. second erin G5 to which :i bnr 6G is pivoted which letter is edepted to more horizontally for .ifting the gate 6 es soon :is the setting oiQ the splitting` rolls allows of the introduction of :L -fresh work piece. The bei' 56 is swung upwardly by e spring (not shown) and has lined on it e block 67 nrrzine'ed to engage e plete 68 fixed on en erin ('59 which is lined on the shalt 1). 'lf he ber 66 is swung downwardly to allow the gate to fell upon the work piece by an erin 70 which is lined to the shaft 7l on which the segment erin 32 is lixed end which swings down when the lower measuring roll 2 is depressed by the work piece and engages e pin 72 in -the bei'.

in thisconstruction the limit to which the upper splitting roll 3 can be lift-ed, is set by two rotatable stop members 73, 74: 5) hei/ing spireliy inclined faces 7 5, 75 end adept-ed to rotate on Vertical mies positioned directly :ibore coinplen'ientsry spiralled blocks 75, 77 mounted on the top sides of the bearing blocks 78, 79 of the upper splittingroll..

Th `wo rotary spiriilly inclined stop ineinbers 7l carry pinions 80, 8l which nre connected by e rech bnr extending across the maicliine; and the pinion 8l is also connected te incl: teeth 'formed on e bei' 83 (Fig. operated by the closed cem trecl (Fig. l) in the gear wheel Gil., seid ber 53? beingr slidzible backward and vforward in the mechino and being; connected et the proper time, :is wi l pref-ently appear, to the wedge incinber 32 r-.fhich engage. the beveled end of the setting slide 537. l`ho nien'iliicr 7l: is prou vided with :i circuler reti-het tl-l (Fig. which is engun'ed by n psiwl so that the ineline members 73, 7l cannotrelurn against the mmfeincnt `given thorn ns described until the pewl released. The pewl is urged by n. spring,` 86 towards the ratchet wheel end is controlled by e lever comprisingl arms S7, S8 (Fig. l) lined on e she'lt 89 rotatably n'ionnted in the freine. T he erm 87 carries n Cain roll 9G which engages a cam 91 on the gear wheel 6l so that the pawl 85 is withlll) l lo

In order that the point on the work piece on which the stamp drops may be varied, the gear wheel 64 is connected to thestamp operating shaft 9 by a spring plunger 134 which can be engaged at a plurality of points upon a hub rigidly lixed to the shaft so that the latter may be rotated to different positions in any et which it may be locked to the cam.

It is desirable in machines ot this general type to provide means for varying the setting ot the upper roll ot the splitting mechanism tor a given adjusted position ot the setting slide 37 so that the pieces of work may be split exactly to the thickness ot' the thinnest spot as determined by the ieeling rolls or to a slightly greater or less thickness as may be desired. Referring more particularly to Figure 5, the inclines 73, 74 are manually adjustable vertically in a head which is rigid with the trame ot' the machine. These inclines have stems 137, 137 projecting vertically upwards, bearing at their upper endsl against the underside et bushings 133 screwed into the head. The stems are held up against the bushings by reduced portions 139 of the stems passing vertically through the bushings and having collars 140 on their upper ends. In order to adjust both inclines simultaneously, the bushings are connected by a manually movable cross bar 141 (Fig. 4) pivotally connected to arms 142 clamped to the bushings which allows of their being moved simultaneously when lock nuts 143 holding them relatively to the trame are freed. The bushings may be adjusted independently it the arms 142 are temporarily unclamped.

In the present construction in order that the upper surface of the conveyor chains 3 may be brought at their ends as close as possible to the two pairs of rolls 1, 2 and 3, 4 the chains run at their ends on small supporting rollers 144, 145 and are driven by a sprocket wheel 146 (itself driven in the usual manner from the constantly rotating mechanism) which is positioned between and under the end rollers, the chains passing below it and being held in Contact with it. by an additional freely rotatable roller 147 carried on a lever 143 pivoted on the sprocket wheel shaft 149 and adjustable about its pivot by a screw 150. In this construction two chains, as shown in Figure 7, are used, the shoe 50 above referred to being positioned between the chains.

fork piece positioning guides 151, 151 are provided in front of the gate 6. rThe guides are pivoted at 152 to slides 153 mounted on the table 7. The guides may be turned down about their pivots into an inoperative position if desired and are held in operative position by spring plungers 155 which enter recesses formed in blocks 156 fixed in the slides 153. rIhe slides 153 are adjustable towards or from each other by a right and lc'lt tln'eadedscrew 157 rotatably and siidably mounted in the table 7 and having fixed on it a hand wheel 153. Fixed on the screw 157 are two collars 159, 160 between which ei;- tends a lug `161 slotted to embrace the screw 157 and projecting Jfrom a sleeve 162 threaded to receive a screw 163 rotatably mounted in the table 7 and prevented from movement endwise by collars 164,165. rlie screw 163 has fixed on it a hand wheel 166 by which it may be rotated to adjust the guides 151, 151 together laterally of the machine.

T he presser member which holds the work pieces upon the chain may conveniently coniprise the two bars 170 (Fig. 3) mounted so as to yield independentl Y at lich end and having termed around their peripheries grooves in which are supported balls 171 the balls travelling along and around the bars as the worlr pieces are ted under them.

In the operation of the machine a work piece is presented beneath the gate 6 to the i'eeling rolls 1 and 2. its the werk piece enters the bite of the rolls the lower roll is moved downward and through the segment arm 32, gear segments 33, 34, raclr bar 35 and sha tt 36 the slide bar 37 is moved across the machine. Downward movement of the segment arm 32 causes, through the arm 7 0 and pin 72 the block 67 to be withdrawn from the block 63 and thus allows the gate 6 to drop onto the workpiece but does not allow the gate to drop tar enough to bring the pawl 42 into engagement with the teeth 40 on the block 33. its the work piece travels through the machine its leading edge passes under and raises the shoe 50 and thereby allows the pawl 43 to be moved by its spring plunger into engagement with the teeth 41. The slide-37 is thus pre vented 'from moving further in that dirccti on in which it would move itl the work piece increased in thl but, owing to the shape. ot the teeth on the pawl `43 and the block 39, it can move in the opposite direction 'it the work piece decreases in thickness. and the thinnest measurement of the thickness et the work piece is therefore recorded bv thev position across the machine ot the slide 37,

l/Vhen the gate 6 drops oit the trailing` end of the wor i piece the pawl 42 is moved into cuigagement with the teeth 46, and the slide 37 is then locked against movement in either direction. V'Jhen the leading end et the work piece passes under the clutch tripping member 11, the clutch associated with the shaft 10 is closed through upward movement ot the bar 22, and the shaft S) commences to rotate. During the 'first part ot the rotation oitl the shait 1() the cam 91 acts upon the roll 90 to withdraw the pawl 35 from the teeth 34 to unlock the rotary stop members 73, 74 so that they may be set in accordance with the position of theA slide 37. Just after the stop members are unlocked, the cam lever 92 is swung in a clockwise direction to move the that the latch 105 may snep undertnd enen the recess 107 in the slide 108. The com reve is then swung' inthe opposite direction en i'noves'the slide 83 and slide 108 which -A l. then connected by the hook 100 ir'orwii (ily until the block 02 on the li l movement of the erm 97 the plungers 100, 101 f more out ot the groove in the r d Q9. lhe parti then re-engeges the rst yhet teeth bl to lock the we( ge members 7B, Tl in 'their set position. ills the mcmb yrs T3, 'E ere rotsted in the manner described, the upp r splitting' roll 3 is moved down by reason o the engagement of the inclined feces against the action of the spring,` 11G end is set si dis tence above the knife edge corresponding te the thickness of the thinnest portion of the Work piece measured by the feeling rolls; und the splitting rolls are thus set in seperated relation to receive the Work piece.

The splitting mechitnisn'i now having been set and locked, the slide 3'? may be returned and the gate opened and c second Work piece presented to the feeling rolls to be measured while the lirst Work piece is being split, lo tree the slide 37 so that it may return to initial p sitioi'nthe pewls 42, 413 nre Withdrawn from the teeth 41:0, ll1. The prwl l2 is Withdrawn by the lifting olthe gate which is e'dected by the cam lever 30, ber 6G and erin 09 s the bor 6G moves towerdsthe Aliront oit the machine. The withdrawal of the pewl 13 is eilected either by the dropping of the shoe 50 oli7 the trailing; end ol the workpiece, it' this has. occurred, or by the ber 127, notch 130 und pewl 12S it 'the shoe 50 has not dropped. llfhen the slide 37 is unlocked, it is returned 'to 'its starting position by the springs 180 l). rlhe letch 10G'is rel esed 'troinfthe slide 10S by the cam piece 113 on the shslit 9, and the slide is returned by the spring, 115. As the cam lever 30 swings in en anti-clockwise di-l rectionto lift the gate, the roll 26 rides up the cem 'trice 25 and allows the rod Q2 to be moved by suitable spring, not shown, under the block and, :is the shalt 9 completes its revolution, the lever 2T is swung about yits pivot to ellowthe clutch erm 24; to swing towards the shaft 10 to open 'the clutch.

Eis has been described tibo-Ve the plungers 100, 101 move out oi" the groove in the rod 90 when the firm 97 continues its movement after the block 02 engages the three 01 on the slide il?. During the movement or" the arm 97 in the opposite direction, when the clutch on the shalt 10 is closedand the geen' 641- begins to rotate, the plunggers `frein enter the groove, end the rod sind .slide 83 irre moved towards the roar of the machine es has been described to return the me 'l 101?. As the men ors 7? 74; ere thus returnec ,splitting roll 3 spring' L6* and momentarily opens the gap between tle roll sind kniie so that, should the roer end "lf s work piece lie-,ve become stuck between tinW vo v:md not lcdiout et the machine, it released tliennndan opportunity given for it to fall sway just before the leading end of the next work piece reaches the splitting rolls.

Hering thus described my invention, what l claim es .neu7 :ind desire to secure by `Letters 'lzitent ofthe United States is:

y l. fr me chine et the class described having, in combination, measuring mechanism, grading,- mcclninism, efec-ntrcller :tor the grinding mechanism adopted to be adjusted in accord-V ance rwith the determinations ot the mensuring mechanism, n member located in the path of travel ci the blank Jfrom one mechanism tothe other and adapted, when displaced by the blrink, to eiiiect e locking,` notion upon the controller and 'to terminate the locking fiction when the blank ha; moved past it, and auxiliary ineens independcntof the grading mechanism ter rmtometicelly rminsting said locking action if the blank exceeds a given length irrespective volifnhether it isstill in engagement with the member.

2. A machine et thecless described having', in combination, measuring mechanism, grading,` mechanism, a controller for the grading mecl'ienisin adapted to be adjusted in accordance with the determinations of the meesurinel mechanism, e member located inthe path o'i travel of the blank and adopted, when displaced by the blank, to effect zr locking action upon the controller,` zt second member indepenoent of: the grading mechanism and also located-in tiresome path, iindmeens operated by thsplscementot scid second member by the blank lor terrninstiing scid locking' eliect.

2l. il. nutchine ol the class described havin g,

in combination, me: surfing'mechanism, grnding mech unism, e controller for the guiding mechzinism adapted to bertdjusted in :record- :rnce with the determinations of the mensuring,` inechenisn'i, means lor `feeding i blank Afrom one mechanism to the other, at member located in the path of feed movement and adopted, when displaced by the blank, to e vloekin` action upon the controller end to maintain the lockingv action While displaced, and ine-zins for terminating' the lockingection "then the lending` end olE 'the blank reaches n `given point beyond the member end spaced from thev grading mechanism, whereby the controller may be rendered responsive to the measurements ol n succeed-` ing blank presented to the measuring mechanism While seid member is still held displaced by "the preceding blank.

' e. il nifichiue or' the class described hsvbers 7 V- tenero position e and to ire-engage t ie latch 105 with the notch reiscd by its Tio ` accordance With the determinations of the measuring` mechanism, means for feeding` a blank from one `mechanism to the other, and a presser Ior holding the blank against the feeding means7 said presser comprising an endless raceway and a plurality of balls therein.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, measuring mechanism,

comprising a bar having extending around it a raceway filled with balls.

17. A machine of the class described having7 in combinatioin blank'treating mechanism, a controller for the treating mechanism adapted to be adjusted into diierent posi# tions, amember located in the pat-h oftravelr of the blank through the machine and adapted, when displaced by the blank., to effect a locking action upon the controller and to terminate the locking action when the blank has moved past it, and auxiliary means for terminating said locking action if theblank exceeds a given dimension.

In testimony whereof` I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS. 

